NBA via Chicago Bulls(NEW YORK) -- With the NBA Playoffs roughly two weeks away, reinforcements could be coming for the Chicago Bulls as point guard Derrick Rose has returned to practice.

Rose returned to full-contact activities in practice for the first time since he had surgery on February 27 to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.

“He was good today,” Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said after practice. “A little winded, which is to be expected. Body on body, full court. But it will come. The more he does that, the faster it will come.”

Despite the improvement in health, it's unknown just when Rose will return.

“We can’t jump ahead,” Thibodeau added. “He’s been out a long time. So he’s got to work his way through it. We have to concentrate on getting everyone ready.”

Recovering from his third knee surgery in as many years, the former MVP has missed 17 games this season. In 46 games this season, Rose is averaging 18.4 points, 5.0 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game.

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- In the midst of the worst season in franchise history, New York Knicks executive Phil Jackson made a plea to Knicks fans that better days are ahead.

Jackson sent a letter and video message to season ticket holders about the state of franchise.

"While I know this has been a challenging season for our team on the court, I can also tell you that everyone in the organization is working tirelessly to get our Knicks back to a place where we are once again competing at the highest level," Jackson said in the video.

"We have made key roster moves to free up significant cap space that will provide us greater flexibility to acquire talent in this summer's free agency," Jackson continued. "And for the first time in many years, we expect to have a top pick in the NBA Draft this June.

"These are key steps to building a roster of players that have both the talent and character to win in New York and who, alongside Carmelo Anthony, will become a team that can become a consistent winner," he added.

Entering Wednesday, the Knicks are 14-60, which is the worst record in the NBA.

Jed Jacobson/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- James Harden will have to continue carrying the Houston Rockets on his back as injuries have struck the team again. The Rockets announced that starting point guard Patrick Beverley will miss the rest of the season with a wrist injury.

Beverley will undergo surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left wrist. He had originally opted to not have the procedure, but ultimately decided it was the best course of action.

"We'll miss Pat in a lot of different ways," Rockets coach Kevin McHale told reporters. "He brings a lot of toughness. He's been really good for us slowing down guys the last couple of years. But we'll use all the resources we have and figure out what we need to do that night."

Beverley is just the latest member of the Rockets to miss time due to injury. Dwight Howard, Terrence Jones, and Donatas Motijuanas have all miss extended time this season.

Despite the injuries, the Rockets have the third-best record in the Western Conference.

Major League Baseball(BOSTON, Ma.) -- The Boston Red Sox have sent catcher Christian Vasquez to the 60-Day disabled list after being diagnosed with a right elbow sprain.

Vasquez was sent to Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion after an MRI discovered a problem in the right elbow of the 24-year-old catcher. In a corresponding move, the Red Sox acquired catcher Sandy Leon from the Washington Nationals.

The Red Sox were expected to employ both Vasquez and Ryan Hanigan, whom the team acquired from the San Diego Padres in exchange for third baseman Will Middlebrooks, as a platoon for the team's catching position.

Additionally, the team's closer Koji Uehara will likely start the season on the disabled list after the 39-year-old felt tightness in his hamstring upon concluding a 30-pitch bullpen session.

"I don't know when I'll be back," Uehara said through interpreter C.J. Matsumoto. "It's a day-to-day process. I have to do what I have to do to get ready."

iStockPhoto/Thinkstock(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) -- Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang was released from the hospital Sunday and diagnosed with a concussion after a scary collision in Saturday's game against the Arizona Coyotes.

Letang lay on the ice in a disoriented state when he fell backwards into the boards after a check by Coyotes winger Shane Doan.

"I just went to make sure I got a piece of him so he couldn't jump by me and he obviously went into the boards awkward," Doan said.

"You never ever want to see anyone like that, especially a guy with his caliber and everything he's went through in the past couple years," he added. "You feel awful as a player when something like that happens."

Letang has a history of concussions and suffered a stroke last season, in what doctors attributed to a small hole in his heart.

Currently, there is no scheduled date for Letang's return, according to coach Mike Johnston.

“We'll see how he feels over the next few days and go from there,” Johnston said.